Cool water detergent composition containing acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidones



This invention relates to detergent compositions especially effective in cool water. The term cool water as used in describing this invention is intended to means aqueous washing solutions having a temperature within a range of from about 40 F. to about 100 F. This temperature characterization more generally is intended to means temperatures substantially below those which are commonly associated with the usual household parlance of hot water.

Some garments or fabrics cannot be washed in hot water, i.e. say in excess of about 110 F., without running the risk of damaging the material by shrinkage or altering the handle or feel of the fabric. For such laundering situations fabric and material manufacturers recommend the use of cool water. Conventional detergents, however, are known to be less effective as cleaning agents, i.e. removing soil, in cool aqueous solutions. There is no question that the presently available detergent compositions can be used under such circumstances but with varying degrees of successful cleaning results. To compensate for the poorer cleaning performance, consumers are generally inclined to use excessive amounts of the detergent compositions. Such economic waste is unfortunate but has been necessary prior to the present invention due to the lack of detergent compositions which are specially formulated to be eifective cleaning agents in cool water.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a detergent composition which is especially effective at cleaning soiled fabrics in cool aqueous washing solutions. Another object of the present invention is to provide novel built detergent compositions consisting essentially of a detergent compound having the following general formula:

wherein R is an aliphatic radical containing from about 9 to about 13 carbon atoms, and R is an alkylene radical containing from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms; and a builder material selected from the group consisting of water soluble inorganic alkaline builder salts, organic alkaline sequestrant builder salts and mixtures thereof, the ratio of weight of the detergent to the builder being in the range of from about 4:1 to 1:20. Other objects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the following detailed description of the present invention.

It has now been surprisingly discovered that certain acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone compounds having the following structural formula wherein R represents an aliphatic radical containing from about 9 to about 13 carbon atoms, and R is an 3,322,675 Patented May 30, 1967 alkylene radical containing from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms possess unusually effective cleaning power in aqueous solutions having the cool temperatures defined above. These unexpected cleaning properties of the compounds of this invention are demonstrated by the experimental data presented below. The experimental data also demonstrate that other members of this general class of compounds but outside of the claimed ranges do not possess effective cool water cleaning properties. Of the pyrrolidone derivatives described herein, best cool water cleaning results are obtained when the long aliphatic chain containing the acyl substituent is dodecanoyl and the R substituent is either ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl or isobutyl. The compounds found to be especially effective cleaning agents in detergent compositions employed in cool water are N-(Z-dodecanoylamidoethYl)2-pyrrolidone, N-(2-dodecanoylamidoisopropyl)Z-pyrrolidone and (4-dodecanoylamidobutyl 2-pyrrolidone.

The acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone compounds to which the present invention pertains can be prepared according to any convenient process. One such process is illustrated hereinafter but other methods can be used. No

proprietary claim is made herein to the compounds themselves.

Preparation of N-(2-dodecanoylamid0ethyl) 2- pyrrolidone N-(Z-aminoethyl)2-pyrrolidone, 0.33 mole (42.7 g.) was dissolved in 150 ml. .of anhydrous ethyl ether containing 0.44 mole, 10% excess (34.8 g.) of pyridine (I-ICl acceptor). To this solution was added, over a three hour period, with stirring, 0.4 mole (87.4 g.) of dodecanoyl chloride. The temperature was controlled by the refluxing of ether (35 C.). During the reaction, the mixture became quite thick, due to the precipitated pyridine hydrochloride, and an additional ml. of ether was added to facilitate stirring.

The mixture was allowed to stand overnight, then filtered, and the precipitate washed with ether. The 49 g. of pyridine hydrochloride remaining was discarded. The ether was evaporated and an additional quantity of hydrochloride salt filtered off. Purification of this particular product was accomplished by heating under vacuum to remove volatiles, then recrystallizing from a 5050 mixture of diethyl ether-petroleum ether, M.P. 45 C Other members of the homologous series are prepared by following the same procedure set forth above. The N-(It-aminoethyl)2-pyrrolidone, can be replaced by other startlng materials including N-(2-arninoisopropyl)2-pyrolldone and N-(Z-aminobutyl) 2-pyrrolidone, etc. Also any acid chloride such as decanoyl chloride, and tetradecanoyl chloride, etc., can be substituted for dodecanoylchloride to give the other derivatives described herein in equally good yields.

By way of explanation, the nomenclature of these compounds as used herein, the numeral 2, e.g. in 2-pyrrolidone, locates the ketone radical on the carbon adjacent to the nitrogen in the heterocyclic ring. In the expressions (4-aminobutyl), (Z-aminoethyl) and (2-aminoiospropyl) the numerals indicate that the amino group is attached on the second and fourth carbons of the aliphatic substituent.

While the class of acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone compounds just described can be employed alone as cool water detergent compounds, more outstanding performances are obtained when they are mixed with other ingredients which enhance or build the cleaning power or detergent compounds, i.e. so-called builder or booster compounds. According to the present invention therefore, the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone detergent compounds are used in conjunction with such other ingredients which substantially improve cleaning power. While the term 3 builder is used herein in its singular form, the term is intended to cover mixtures of such compounds also.

The present invention pertains to detergent compositions consisting essentially of a water soluble inorganic alkaline builder salt or a water soluble organic alkaline sequestrant builder salt, or mixtures thereof, and a member of the class of acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone detergent compounds having the general formula described above, which composition consists essentially of the detergent compounds and a builder material in a ratio by Weight of detergent to builder of about 4:1 to about 1:20. The preferred ratio of the detergent to builder is 1:1 to about 1:10. The ratios and percentages referred to herein are all by weight unless otherwise noted.

The built detergent compositions of this invention can be prepared as granule, tablet, or as liquid compositions and perform effectively. Granular and tablet compositions offering outstanding cool water Washing performance contain from 8% to 50% by weight of the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone detergent compounds, the balance comprising essentially a selected builder material or mixtures of builders. Preferred granular and tablet compositions contain from about to about 35% by weight of the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone detergent with the balance comprising the essential builder materials and other ingredients. On the other hand, built liquid detergents prepared according to the present invention have a slightly modified composition to compensate for the requirement of a liquid vehicle. Such liquid compositions can contain from about 2% to 25% by weight of the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidino detergent, preferably from about 8% to about 18%, with the remainder comprised essentially of builder ingredients, and, of course, a liquid vehicle as described below. The ratio set forth above between the detergent and builder applies equally to all physical forms of the composition.

Water soluble inorganic alkaline builder salts which can be used in this invention alone or in admixture are alkali metal carbonates, borates, phosphates, polyphosphates, bicarbonates and silicates. Ammonium or substituted ammonium salts of these materials can also be used. Specific examples of suitable salts are sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium tetraborate, sodium and potassium pyrophosphate, sodium and ammonium bicarbonate, potassium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexarnetaphosphate, sodium sesquicarbonate, sodium orthophosphate and potassium bicarbonate. The preferred inorganic alkaline builders according to this invention are alkali metal tripolyphosphates for built granular and tablet compositions and alkali metal pyrophosphates for built liquid compositions. Potassium is the preferred alkali metal used in liquid compositions and sodium finds best application for granular or tablet compositions.

Examples, of suitable organic alkaline sequestrant builder salts used in this invention alone or in admixture are alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium, aminopolycarboxylates, e.g., sodium and potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, sodium and potassium N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-ethylenediaminetriacetates, sodium and potassium nitrilotriacetates and sodium, potassium and triethanolammonium N-( 2 hydroxyethyl)-nitrilodiacetates. Mixed salts of these polycarboxylates are also suitable. The alkali metal salts of phytic acid, e.g., sodium phytate are also suitable as organic alkaline sequestrant builder salts (see U.S. Patent 2,739,942). Ethane-l-hydroxy-l, 1-diphosphonate as described in Diehl, U.S. Patent 3,159,- 581 which issued December 1, 1964, can also be used as a builder, either alone or in mixtures with other builder compounds.

Besides the builders being used in the form of mixtures it is also possible according to the present invention to use the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone compounds of this invention in combination with other cleaning agents such as anionic, nonionic and Zwitterionic organic detergent surfactant compounds. When it is desired to use the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone compounds in combination with other detergent compounds, the ratio of the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone to such other detergent compound is about 10:1 to 1:5. If for any reason it is desired to use an acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone in admixture with another detergent compound as the active portion of a cleaning composition, the ratio of such a mixture to the builder salt should be within the previously prescribed range of 4:1 to 1:20. A composition prepared along these lines can contain from 4% to 50% of such a mixture and 5% to of a builder salt selected from Water soluble inorganic alkaline builder salts, water soluble organic sequestrant builder salts, and mixtures thereof.

Examples of anionic soap detergents which can be used in admixture with the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidones, if desired, are the sodium, potassium, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts of higher detergent range fatty acids (C C Particularly useful are the sodium and potassium salts of the mixtures of fatty acids derived from coconut oil and tallow, i.e., sodium or potassium tallow and coconut soap. Examples of suitable anionic organic non-soap detergents are: alkylglycerylethersulfonates; alkyl sulfates, alkyl monoglyceride sulfates or sulfonates; alkylpolyethenoxy ether sulfates; acylsarcosinates; acyl esters of isethionates; N-acyl-Nmiethy-l taurides, alkylbenzenesulfonates wherein the alkyl substituent is straight chain or branched chain; and alkylphenol polyethenoxy sulfonates. In these compounds the alkyl and acyl groups, respectively, contain 10 to 20 carbon atoms. They are used in the form of water soluble salts, the sodium, potassium, ammonium, and alkylolammonium salts, for example. Specific examples are: sodium lauryl sulfate, potassium N-methyl-N-lauroyl tauride; triethanolammonium dodecylbenzenesulfonate.

Examples of nonionic organic detergents which can be used in the compositions of this invention, if desired, are: polyethylene oxide condensates of alkylphenols wherein the alkyl group contains from 8 to 15 carbon atoms (e.g., t-octylphenol) and the ethylene oxide is present in a molar ratio of ethylene oxide to alkylphenol in the range of 8:1 to 20:1, condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylene diamine wherein the molecular weight of the condensation products ranges from 5000 to 11,000; the condensation products of from about 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with one mole of a straight or branched chain aliphatic alcohol containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms (e.g., lauryl alcohol); C -C alkyl di-(Q-C alkyl) amine oxides (e.g., dodecyldimethylamine oxides).

Zwitterionic synthetic detergent surfactant compounds which can be used are broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic quaternary ammonium compounds, in which the aliphatic radical can be straight chain or branched and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and one contains an anionic water solubilization group, e.g., carboxy, sulfo, or sulfato. Examples of compounds falling within this definition are: 3-(N,N dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio)- 2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate and 3-(N,N dimethyl-N- hexadecylammonio)-propane-1-sulfonate.

The discovery that the compositions containing members of the preferred class of compounds described in this invention show exceptional cool water detergency was unpredictable in view of the fact that there is, as yet, virtually no generally accepted theory or background information on the mechanics of cool water detergency. For this reason it is not fully understood why certain members of the present novel class of compounds perform effectively whereas structurally similar homologucs perform poorly. Moreover, cleaning agents such as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, for example, which are good hot Water ('140 F.) detergent compounds exhibit a minimum of cleaning activity in cool water. One would be led to assume that the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone compounds of the present invention should be, comparatively speaking, as poor as any other conventional detergent compounds when used in cool water; certainly there is no reason to expect that they would behave otherwise. As has been discovered, however, the compositions containing the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone com-pounds of this invention are substantially more effective in cool water than some of the commonly used commercially available detergent compositions are in hot water. It can, therefore, be seen that the structure of a given detergent compound which is effective in hot Water has little or no discernable relation to the effectiveness of such compounds in cool water.

It has also been found that maximum cleaning occurs with the compositions of this invention when the pH of the washing solution, at cool water temperatures as herein defined is within the range of from about 8 to about 12 with the preferred pH range being 9.5 to 11.5. Using normal amounts of water for washing, the desired pH of the solution can be obtained by incorporating into the compositions of this invention a normal amount of a strongly alkaline material such as sodium silicate, i.e., up to about by weight. The silicate acts as a buffer and also as a corrosion inhibitor.

A laundering method incorporating the discovery of the present invention can be practiced in a number of different ways. Preferably the washing step is followed by rinsing and drying the fabrics. The washing solution can be prepared by adding the granular, tablet or liquid detergent composition prepared according to this invention to any container which contains cool water at a temperature ranging from about 40 F. to about 100 F. The detergent composition concentration in solution can range from about .05% to 350% by total weight, and should be added in suflicient amount to provide a concentration of at least 0.005% of the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone detergent compound. The fabrics can be added to the container or washer before or after the washing solution is added. As is usual in a washing step, the fabrics are then agitated in the detergent solution. While the period of time may vary, an automatic agitator type washer generally employs a washing cycle which ranges from 8 to 15 minutes.

After the washing step, the washing liquor is drained off or the fabrics are separated from the liquor and thereafter the fabrics are rinsed in clean water. The fabrics can be rinsed as many times as desired in order to insure that all of the washing liquor is removed. Using an automatic washer, it has been found that about four spray rinses and one deep rinse is usually sufficient for this purpose. Between and after rinsing steps, the bulk of the rinse water is usually drawn from, or spun out of the fabrics. After rinsing, the fabrics are dried. Although rinsing and drying are usual and desirable steps, the important advantage of the invention is achieved in the washing step.

The surprisingly effective cool water performance characteristics of the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone compounds described herein are demonstrated by conducting the following tests.

Naturally soiled fabric swatches (desized cotton print cloth) were washed for ten minutes in an aqueous solution having a temperature of 80 F., a pH of 10 and containing 7 grains equivalent CaCO per gallon hardness. Several detergent compositions were prepared containing only the basic essentials according to the present invention, i.e. a detergent compound and a builder compound. The detergent compounds were representative acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone compounds and the builder compound in each composition was sodium tripolyphosphate. By using the same builder compound in each composition, any variations in cleaning performance could be directly attributed to the specific detergent being evaluated. The concentration by weight in solution of the detergent was .03% and the concentration of the builder was .06%.

In the table below the several detergent compounds tested are ranked according to their relative soil removing properties.

Soil removal is expressed in Table I as a percentage of the soil originally present on the soiled swatches. The amounts of soil present (a) on the cloth swatches after washing and drying and (b) on similar unwashed swatches were determined by solvent extraction. Calculations with the data so obtained yielded the figures in Table I.

It is pointed out that three of the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone detergent compounds gave results in Water at P. which were comparable or superior to other results obtained with a formula wherein tetrapropylenebenzenesulfonate (ABS) was used as a cleaning agent in a washing solution having a temperature of 140 F. Tetrapropylenebenzenesulfonate is Widely regarded as a standard for comparison. Compositions which perform better than ABS at 140 F. generally can find application and commercial acceptance as detergent formulations. In situations such as the present invention where superior or comparable cleaning is obtained with different compounds at low temperatures, i.e. 80 F., the results are even more remarkable.

TABLE 1 Percent removal Detergent compounds: of soil (1) N (4 dodecanoylamidobutyDZ pyrrolidone 72 (2) N (2 dodecanoylamidoethyl)2 pyrrolidone 64 (3) Tetrapropylenebenzenesulfonate (in washing solution of 140 F.) 64 (4) N (2 dodecanoylamidoisopropyl)2 pyrrolidone 62 (5) N (2 hexadecanoylamidoethyl)2 pyrrolidone 52 (6) N (dodecanoylamidomethyl)2 pyrrolidone 46 (7) N (tetradecanoylamidomethyl)2 pyrrolidone 40 (8) N (2 octanoylamidoethyl)2 pyrrolidone 37 In Table I, the removal of 72% soil accomplished with N-(4-dodecanoylamidobutyl)Z-pyrrolidone is substantially superior to the ABS figure of 64%. N-(Z-dodecanoylamrdoethyDZ-pyrrolidone and N-(2-dodecanoyla-midoisopropyl)2-pyrrolidone gave cleaning results which are comparable to the ABS figure of 64%. The difference between 62% and 64% is not a visually discernible one. The remaining acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone compounds gave decreasingly poorer results and can be thought of as less desirable for cool water cleaning situations.

Substantially the same performance advantages are observed by the housewife when doing the home laundry in water ranging from 40 to 100 F. Woolens and synthetic fibers washed in the same manner are cleaned as efficiently when washed according to the process of this invention and using the compositions of this invention as they would be if they were washed in conventional detergent compositions at hot water temperatures, yet a minimum of shrinkage and wrinkling takes place and the feel of the wool is preserved to a greater extent.

While the compositions of this invention are outstandingly effective in water at a temperature ranging from 40 F. to 100 F. the preferred temperature range is about 60 F. to F. Below about 60 F. it has been found that the granular detergent compositions of this invention are somewhat slower to dissolve, consequently it is preferred to use liquid compositions at such lower temperatures.

The following compositions will further illustrate the manner in which the invention can be practiced. Included are both liquid and granular formulations. It will be understood, that the examples are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention claimed hereinafter. These compositions are useful in automatic Washers and conventional type washers as well as hand washing operations.

EXAMPLE I Solid Percent N-(4-dodecanoylamidobutyl) 2-pyrrolidone 17 .5 Sodium tripolyphosphate 50.0 Sodium silicate (Na O:S:O =1:2.5) 10.0 Sodium sulfate 17.5 Water 5.0

EXAMPLE 11 Solid N- (4-dodeeanoylamidobutyl) 2-pyrrolidone 31.0 Sodium tripolyphosphate 62.0 Water 7.0

EXAMPLE III Solid N-(4-dodecanoylamidobutyl)2-pyrrolidone 72.0 Ethane-l-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate 24.0 Water 4.0

EXAMPLE IV Solid Sodium tetrapropylenebenzenesulfonate 20.0 N-(Z-tetradecanoylamidoethyl)2-pyrro1idone 25.0 Sodium tripolyphosphate 45.0 Sodium silicate (Na O:SiO =l:2.5) 5.0 Water 5.0

EXAMPLE V Solid N-(Z-decanoylamidoisopropyl)2-pyrrolidone 19.5 Ethane-l-hydroxy-l,l-diphosphonate 50.0 Sodium sulfate 8.0 Sodium silicate (Na O:SiO =1:2.5) 11.5 Water 11.0

EXAMPLE VI Liquid N-(4-dodecanoylamidobutyl)2-pyrrolidone 22.0 Tetrapotassium pyrophosphate 19.0 Sodium silicate (Na O:SiO :1:l.6) 3.8 Potassium toluenesulfonate 8.5 Sodium carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose .3 Water 46.4

EXAMPLE VII Liquid N-(2-dodecanoylamidoethyl)2-pyrrolidone 15.0 Dodecyldimethyla-mine oxide 6.0 Tetrapotassium pyrophosphate 20.0 Sodium silicate (Na O:SiO -:1:1.6) 3.8 Potassium toluenesulfonate 8.5 Sodium carboxymethyl hydroxymethyl cellulose .3 Water 46.4

It will be appreciated that the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone compounds used in the present invention can be incorporated into many other liquid or granular detergent compositions with suitable adjustments being made in the other components.

Materials which are considered normal and desirable additives in liquid or granule detergent compositions can be added to the compositions of this invention Without adversely effecting or modifying basic cleaning characteristics. For example, a tarnish inhibitor such as benzotriazole or ethylene thiourea may be added in amounts up to about 1%. Fluorescers, perfume, color, antiredeposition agents, thickening agents, opacifiers, and blending or viscosity control agents, while not essential in the compositions of this invention, may also be added.

While the present invention finds exceptional application in cool water washing situations, the compositions described herein can also be used in conjunction with warm and hot water.

What is claimed herein is:

1. A detergent composition having superior cleaning ability in aqueous solutions having a temperature within a range of from about 40 F. to about F. consisting essentially of a detergent compound of the following general formula wherein R is an aliphatic radical containing from about 9 to about 13 carbon atoms and R is an alkylene radical containing from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms and a builder material which is sodium tripolyphosphate, the ratio by weight of said detergent compound to said builder material being in the range of about 4:1 to about 1:20.

2. The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio of said detergent compound to said builder is from 1:1 to about 1:10, by Weight.

3. The detergent composition of claim 1 in which the aqueous solution has a pH of from about 8 to about 12.

4. The detergent composition of claim 3 wherein the preferred pH range is between about 9.5 and 11.5.

5. The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the detergent compound is N-(4-dodecanoylamidobutyl)2- pyrrolidone.

6. The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the detergent compound is N-(2-dodecanoylamidoethyl)2- pyrrolidone.

7. The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the detergent compound is N-(2-dodecanoylamidoisopropyl) 2-pyrrolidone.

8. A built detergent composition providing cool water washing levels comparable or superior to conventional detergent compositions at hot water temperatures consisting essentially of 4 to 50% of a mixture of an acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone compound selected from the group consisting of N-(4-dodecanoylarnidobutyl)Z-pyrrolidone, N-(2-dodecanoylamidoethyl)2 pyrrolidone and N (2- dodecanoylamidoisopropyl)Z-pyrrolidone and an organic detergent surfactant selected from the group consisting of an anionic detergent selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts of (1) higher fatty acids containing 10 to 20 carbon atoms, (2) alkylglycerylether sulfonates, (3) alkyl sulfates, (4) alkyl monoglyceride sulfates and sulfonatcs, (5 alkyl polythenoxy ether sulfates, (6) acylsarcosinates, (7) acyl esters of isethionates, (8) N-acyl-N-methyl taurides, (9) alkylbenzenesulfonates wherein the alkyl substituent is straight chain or branched chain, (10) alkylphenyl polyethenoxy sulfates, wherein the alkyl and acyl groups contain 10 to 20 carbon atoms, a nonionic detergent selected from the group consisting of (1) polyethylene oxide condensates of alkylphenols wherein the alkyl group contains from 8 to 15 carbon atoms and the ethylene oxide is present in a molar ratio of ethyleneoxide to alkylphenol in the range of 8:1 to 20:1,

(2) condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylene diamine wherein the molecular weight of the condensation products ranges from 5,000 to 11,000,

(3) the condensation products of from about to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with one mole of a straight or branched-chain aliphatic alcohol containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms,

(4) dodecyldimethylamine oxide, and

a Zwitterionic detergent selected from the group consisting of 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio -2- hydroxypropane-l-sulfonate and 3-(N,N-dimethyl- N-hexadecylammonio -prop anel-sulfonate,

the ratio of the acylamidoalkyl pyrrolidone compound to said organic detergent surfactant being in the range of :1 to 1:5 and from 5 to 85% of a builder material which is sodium tripolyphosphate.

9. The detergent composition of claim 8 wherein the anionic organic detergent surfactant is a water soluble salt of tetrapropylenebenzenesulfonic acid.

10. The detergent composition of claim 8 wherein the organic detergent surfactant is a zwitterionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of 3-(N,N- dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio)-pnopane-1-sulfonate and 3-(N,N dimethyl N hexadecylammonio)propane-1- sulfonate and 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio)-2- hydroxypropane-l-sulfonate.

11. A laundering process comprising the steps of immersing soiled fabrics and garments into an aqueous solution having a temperature within the range of from about F. to about F., and a pH of from about 8 to about 12, said aqueous solution containing from about .05 to .50% by total weight of a detergent composition consisting essentially of a detergent compound of the following general formula References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1960 Buc et a1 252-l52 X 2/1966 Diehl et a1. 252152 X LEON D. ROSDOL, Primary Examiner. S. E. DARDEN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DETERGENT COMPOSITION HAVING SUPERIOR CLEANING ABILITY IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS HAVING A TEMPERATURE WITHIN A RANGE OF FROM ABOUT 40*F. TO ABOUT 100*F. CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A DETERGENT COMPOUND OF THE FOLLOWING GENERAL FORMULA 